Dodge Avenger: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Dodge Avenger: 4 model years scored from 1,515 NHTSA owner complaints and 12 recall campaigns. Worst year 2013, best year 2014.
Dodge Avenger: which years to avoid
Across 4 scored model years the Dodge Avenger ranges from 60/100 in 2013 to 89/100 in 2014 — a 29-point spread, so which year you buy matters. The weakest year’s complaints concentrate in Air Bags (154 of them).
Safest years: 2011, 2014 — scored 70 or better.
Scored from NHTSA complaints per year of exposure and recall campaigns. How the score works · every car’s years to avoid.
Year-by-year data table
Best year in our data: 2014 (score 89). Worst: 2013 (score 60, CAUTION).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 89 | BUY | $4,994 | 205 | 1 |
| 2013 | 60 | CAUTION | $5,710 | 548 | 5 |
| 2012 | 66 | CAUTION | $5,700 | 553 | 3 |
| 2011 | 83 | BUY | $5,304 | 209 | 3 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Photographs and every generation of the Avenger, through the years →
What goes wrong on the Dodge Avenger
Across every Avenger model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Air Bags367 complaints across all Avenger years · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement$600–$1,700
- Unknown Or Other341 complaints across all Avenger years · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair$360–$940
- Engine286 complaints across all Avenger years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System280 complaints across all Avenger years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
- Seat Belts154 complaints across all Avenger years · typical job: Pretensioner or retractor replacement$360–$800
- Visibility/Wiper118 complaints across all Avenger years · typical job: Wiper motor, linkage or windscreen replacement$490–$1,200
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What are the best Dodge Avenger years to buy?
2011, 2014 all score 70 or better. The strongest is the 2014 at 89/100, on 205 complaints and 1 recall campaigns.
Which Dodge Avenger years should I avoid?
The 2013 is the weakest year we score, at 60/100 (CAUTION), on 548 complaints and 5 recalls. Check the year-by-year table above before committing to any particular car.
What is the most common Dodge Avenger problem?
367 of the complaints filed against the Avenger across all its model years sit in the Air Bags group — more than any other component.
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Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04